Car and driver - Muscat

Will be in Oman first week of March..

Can anyone recommend a reliable (English or German speaking) driver with car.
We wish to spend half a day or so in going from Muscat to look at Nizwa, Fort and Souk and maybe stopping at the Amouage factory on the way back to Muscat.

Any ideas (and prices) appreciated. We don't really want to sign up for a full day organised tour and i'm not really keen on renting a self drive.

Also where are the best places to get a traditional Khanjar, not a tourist reproduction but not a budget buster either..

Many thanks,

Pete

I don't want to talk you out hiring a driver - I'm sure others will be able to suggest a good company. However I just wanted to note that Oman is probably the best country in the Gulf to do self-drive - traffic is light, especially outside of Muscat and from my experience Omani drivers are fairly responsible - at least in the same manner as most of southern Europe. Driving is easier than in Dubai and doesn't even remotely compare to crazy places like Beirut or Cairo.
Also : If you are going to Nizwa you'll really need a full day, otherwise you'll just be rushing through.

Many places where you can get a driver and car, do you need a 4x4 or just a sedan and for how many people, as it will affect the price?
If you only planning to visit Nizwa fort and Souk then no need for 4x4 but if you want to go to see Jabal Al Akhdar and Jabal Shams, then you will need one. If you have time it will be worth it to go the mountains (Jabal), but in any case I think half a day is not enough and they will probably charge you for a day use anyway.
I can ask and confirm exact price, but I believe it is probably around OMR 120 per day for 4x4. If you rent and drive yourself it is something like OMR 30-40 for 4x4 or OMR 10-12 for small sedan.

I know there are lots and lots of different kinds of Khangars at many shops in Muttrah Souk, so you can try there. Price range from few rials for chiness made ones to around 100 rial for silver and fance ones. You can negotiate and haggle with price when you shop too.

Hope that help and If you need any more advice let me know. Enjoy.

I would be more confident buying a Khanjar in Nizwa than in Muttrah. I am under the impression that Nizwa is the place to go for silver in Oman, and there are some shops there with a HUGE selection of Khanjars. I tend to question the authenticity of pretty much everything in Muttrah...

Thanks to all for your replies,

I'll probably go with the rental car option, as the hotel we are staying at has a rental car lot, and as we will be in Shatti Al Qurm so it's not to complicated to get out to the airport and the Nizwa road.

Have been to Muscat before, there are bargains to be had in Muttrah, but there were some definately dubious "original" items, managed to pick up a nice intricate silver ring for Mrs R, and a messenger in Muttrah, but wasn't confident with the Khanjars, and those in the heritage center in Al Qurm gave me sticker shock!

Hello ill be in Oman on 16 morning and leave on 17 evening on October. Please help us find a car and a driver. Any recommendation? We would like to visit the turtle beach, wadi as shab, bimmah sinkhole and Wadi Suwaya. If there still time then we can visit other beautiful waterfalls in Eastcoast.

Please send me a message in my skype chemron25. Would really appreciate any help from you guys.... Thanks a lot!